‘Was he right?’

You feel colder, all of a sudden. ‘And was he right?’ you ask, cautiously, feeling the icy tendrils creep a bit closer to your heart. ‘Is that was this is about? Am I just a rebound?’

‘No!’ Fresh tears spring to Emma’s eyes. ‘I mean, I don’t think so – that’s not how this feels – but…’

You wait for it. ‘But…’ you prompt, tonelessly.

‘But – well – you have to admit we’ve been taking things pretty fast!’ Emma bites her lip, looking really upset now. ‘We had sex the first night I met you, for God’s sake, and I – I’m not like that, I’m not usually, I don’t…’ She shakes her head, looking down. ‘I don’t know what came over me.’

You can’t even bring yourself to make the obvious joke, because it wouldn’t work and you know it. ‘Do you regret it?’ you ask her quietly, not really wanting to know the answer.

Emma just shakes her head.

‘I don’t know. I don’t think so, but – it might be nice if we’d waited, you know – and I’m not blaming you, I’m really not,’ she adds quickly, obviously seeing the look on your face. ‘I know I kissed you first, and I know I was this big fantasy of yours, I do know all that. I’m not saying it was anyone’s fault. It’s just…’

She seems unable to finish her sentence. ‘You wish we’d taken things slower,’ you say heavily. ‘And you feel like I took advantage of you.’

Emma just bites her lip unhappily.

‘It’s just…’ Her voice trembles, and she clears her throat awkwardly. ‘It’s just that a week ago, I was in a serious long-term relationship, and now I’m not, and I – I don’t want to be that girl, you know?’

She looks at you despairingly. ‘I know how this sounds, like I’m having second thoughts, but – I don’t want to feel like I’m using you for something! I’d hate myself if that were true, and right now I just don’t know – I can’t think straight, half the time I’m sad about Justin and half the time I’m having sex with you, and it just, I just…’

Her voice breaks down completely. ‘I just feel so weird,’ she finishes, through her hands. ‘I feel like… I just need some time to think, that’s all.’

You don’t know what to say.

It feels like an eternity before Emma lifts her head again. ‘Maybe,’ she whispers, and from the look in her eyes, you know this isn’t good. ‘Maybe… if we just don’t see each other for a little while, maybe that’ll help. If we miss each other – and I’m sure we will! Maybe then that’ll prove it’s not just a rebound fling.’